Sharon Pinkenson, Executive Director of the Greater Philadelphia Film Office, was the keynote speaker at the recent 2010 Annual Meeting of the Philadelphia Bar Association's Younger Lawyers Division (held on March 31, 2010).

As the leader of the Greater Philadelphia Film Office for the past 18 years, Sharon has played a major role in establishing the “golden age” of Philadelphia's film industry.

You probably remember Tom Hank's heart-wrenching performance in the movie Philadelphia in 1993, but did you also know that Philadelphia was the first movie to be filmed almost entirely in the City of Brotherly Love in over 60 years?

Since then, the City of Philadelphia has become one of Hollywood's favorite filming locations. The long list of movies filmed in and around Philadelphia includes many well-known favorites such as the Rocky series, 12 Monkeys, Se7en, The Age of Innocence, Fallen, Beloved, Invincible, Live Free or Die Hard, Independence Day, Shooter, as well as some of the more recent films like Marley & Me, Law Abiding Citizen, The Lovely Bones, and Transformer: Revenge of the Fallen.

M. Night Shyamalan, Philadelphia's "homegrown" movie director, is famous for filming and staging his movie plots in and around Philadelphia where he was raised. Shyamalan's love for the city is evident in all of his work. His latest and highly-anticipated film The Last Airbender, as well as his previous films The Sixth Sense, The Village, Signs, and The Happening, all join the long list of movies filmed in or around Philadelphia.

In addition to movies, Philadelphia is also the filming location of many TV series among which are Fringe, Cold Case, and American Idol.

Sharon Pinkenson talked about Philadelphia's current film industry during her speech to the YLD last month:

The film industry has been relatively immune to economic downturn. In the past year, the industry accounted for 4000 jobs in the Philadelphia region.

Tax credits and lower costs are a big incentive to lure movies to be shot in Philadelphia. Unfortunately, with the proposed state budget, these tax credits, along with most other tax credits, are taking a cut.

There is a currently-untitled tv pilot filmed in the city starring Jimmy Smits as a United States Supreme Court justice who leaves the bench to return to practice. The show stands a good chance of getting picked up.

Finally, for anyone tired of being a lawyer and looking for a possible career in film, visit the GPFO’s website (film.org) for professional listings.